Abstract

The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging
(MESSENGER) spacecraft was designed and constructed to withstand the
harsh environments associated with achieving and operating in Mercury
orbit. The system can be divided into eight subsystems: structures and
mechanisms (e.g., the composite core structure, aluminum launch vehicle
adapter, and deployables), propulsion (e.g., the state-of-the-art
titanium fuel tanks, thruster modules, and associated plumbing), thermal
(e.g., the ceramic-cloth sunshade, heaters, and radiators), power (e.g.,
solar arrays, battery, and controlling electronics), avionics (e.g., the
processors, solid-state recorder, and data handling electronics),
software (e.g., processor-supported code that performs commanding, data
handling, and spacecraft control), guidance and control (e.g., attitude
sensors including star cameras and Sun sensors integrated with
controllers including reaction wheels), radio frequency
telecommunications (e.g., the spacecraft antenna suites and supporting
electronics), and payload (e.g., the science instruments and supporting
processors). This system architecture went through an extensive (nearly
four-year) development and testing effort that provided the team with
confidence that all mission goals will be achieved.